“As the President [Putin] emphasised, we have no intention of going to war with Europe,” said Lavrov.

“We have no such intention.

“But we will respond to any hostile steps, including the deployment of European military contingents in Ukraine and the expropriation of Russian assets.”

This would be a trigger for the Kremlin, he made clear, in a thinly veiled World War Three warning.

He spoke as Britain admitted that a member of its armed forces had been killed during a munitions trial “that went wrong” inside Ukraine.

The unnamed serviceman was injured in a “tragic accident while observing Ukrainian forces test a new defensive capability, away from the front line”, and later died, said the UK’s Ministry of Defence.

Lavrov made clear “we are already prepared for this response” if NATO contingents were deployed in Ukraine after the end of the war.

“Russian diplomacy clearly understands the stakes,” he told lawmakers in Moscow.

“It is working to support the president’s efforts to reliably ensure Russia‘s security on its western borders.”

This may involve a threat to NATO states which have borders with Russia – notably Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland – and Norway.

Lavrov – reappearing after repeated absences from key in recent weeks amid health rumours – drove a wedge between the US and Europe including Britain.

“We appreciate President Trump’s commitment to dialogue and to resolving the conflict in Ukraine through political and diplomatic means,” he said, stressing the need to continue dialogue based on Moscow’s dealings with White House envoy Steve Witkoff, who is seen as pro-Putin.

Trump was “the only Western leader who cares about human rights in this situation” – referring to guarantees for Russians and religious minorities in Ukraine.

“The key is the fundamental understanding that a sustainable settlement is impossible without addressing the root causes of the crisis,” said Lavrov, 75.

“These root causes are well known, and President Putin has repeatedly addressed them.

“Despite the need to acknowledge the reality, London, the leadership of the European Commission in Brussels, and most NATO and EU member states maintain an openly destructive position on the Ukrainian issue.

“Having invested all their political capital, whatever it is, in a war with Russia, using the hands and bodies of Ukrainian citizens, they remain hopelessly politically blind, deluding themselves into believing they can somehow defeat our country.”

He warned that Moscow hoped for a “political” solution that met Putin’s red lines – but the Kremlin was ready to use force.

“Political means are preferable, of course, and, if necessary, military and military-technical means.

“And we daily pay tribute to the heroism of those who defend our truth on the frontlines of special military operations.”

Lavrov spoke after Ukraine was agains pounded by Russian forces – showing no sign that a peace deal is in the offing.

A man was killed and several injured as Putin’s army hit Dnipropetrovsk region.

A school caught fire as a result of a Russian attack on Chernihiv region.

Russian drones destroyed a gas compressor station near the village of Ananyev in Odesa region.